SIL Electronic Publications

SIL Electronic Survey Reports 2011-024

Report on the Haju Subdistrict Survey in Papua, Indonesia

Authors

Kriens, Ron
Lebold, Randy
Menanti, Jacqualine

Abstract

This report summarizes the findings of a linguistic and sociolinguistic survey conducted in a
number of villages in Haju Subdistrict, Merauke Regency, in the province of Papua, Indonesia.
Information was gathered by visiting eleven villages. The results indicate that four of these
villages use the Asue Awyu language and seven villages use the Kayagar language. Vernacular
use remains strong in private domains but national language use is increasing. Further survey is
needed in the Kayagar-speaking villages that have not yet been visited to get a more complete
picture of internal dialectology of Kayagar, as well as its relationship to the Tamagario language.
Dialect intelligibility testing and/or participatory assessment may be needed in the Asue Awyu
and Kayagar-speaking language areas to determine the number of language-development
programs needed.